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"I can’t right now I have to go out to meet a client But I’ll catch you up on Monday, I promise"

She suy, because I’ve never seen a look like that in your eyes before"

I shakeout the door

• • •

After lunch with Tate, we arrive at the hotel to supervise the vendors setting up, answer questions, and discuss the couple’s grand entrance, first dance, cake cutting, garter toss, and other details As the time for the ceremony approaches, we head to the church to distribute the flowers and organize the wedding party Tate cues the in the cere

From the ceremony weparty is in their appropriate places for photos to begin I have to adht fra, cake cutting, and finally the night co about all the work has been that it’s keptabout Ben The way one hand expertly pinned me to the wall and the other roamed my body The way he filled me, stretched me, and covered rab a drink?" Tate asks, tearing ht I’ day"

"Are you seeing someone else?" he asks

Exasperation overtakes me, but exhaustion overrules it "No, Tate, I’o home I’ll see you Monday" I don’t bother to explain that it wouldn’t be so But that would just trigger his teh his eyes pry intoanyone, by definition anyway, and I really a about exhaustion is that it plays with your mind I fall asleep easily but wake up constantly, each time after another dream about Ben I’m a damsel in distress and he saves irl and he’s my master

The next day I decide to sleep in and spend the day lying around trying to keepnot to dwell on the incredible sex Ben and I shared the other night How he took control, how he set the pace, how much I enjoyed that How different he is from anyone I’ve been with and howhiet out for spin class to help chase away so

I come home and make my typical round of calls--Mom, River, Xander--and then I decide it’s tier I find his nu and Ben’s voice, sh the line "Hi there"

"Hi," I say, losing ain

"We’re on for tonight, right?"

"Yes"

"What time do you want me to pick you up?"

"Oh no, you can’t pick me up"

He chuckles "Okay, then, what is your plan?"

My voice is shakier than e to tell him my idea "I’ll text you the details"

"Sounds o, but I’ll be in touch soon"

"Okay," he says, and it al

I hit END and cradle the phone in irl and be the woman I knoants I can do that I know I can So with renewed determination I type out what I was unable to say on the phone

Since you see the daht, rade

His response is irade reversal perhaps?

Good, he’s going to play along

I a to meet you in the USC Library, fifteenth floor, third rooht

Just so you know, I don’t change grades for just anyone or anything

I didn’t think he’d have a probleame Ben has always been about sex, and since I can’t seeive him what he wants one ain And even if he does I’ll be able to say no-- I have to

I hop in the shower, scrub, shampoo, condition, shave, andlocks into t pigtails, find a white button blouse, a plaid skirt, a pair of low flats, and I’m ready I skip the underwear--top and bottom

I arrive on campus a little early andI notice when I enter the roohts up the sky My eyes adjust quickly to the darkness while I cross the sto find the stars But there are none to be seen tonight I close my eyes and conjure up ht I spent with Ben so long ago It was a night that changed everything but also a tis felt much simpler to me